When a massive Hollywood blockbuster hits the silver screen, you can always count on two inevitable truths: audiences will flood the theaters, and the legendary cinematic trolls at The Asylum will immediately release a “mockbuster” version to cash in on the hype. Their latest target? Literal world history. A brand-new trailer for The Odyssey gives us our first look at The Asylum’s unique spin on the iconic Greek epic poem.
The Asylum’s Take on an Epic Tale
The official synopsis reads exactly like the SparkNotes you desperately skimmed in high school. Based on the ancient Greek epic. After ten years of brutal war, King Odysseus sets sail for Ithaca, eager to reunite with his beloved. However, his journey home is far more treacherous than the battlefield. He must face deadly monsters and vengeful gods to survive.
Like Homer’s original tale, the trailer follows King Odysseus. He must navigate a nightmare of treacherous encounters on his way back to his wife. Indie horror veteran Marcel Walz directs this cinematic voyage. He directs from a screenplay penned by Joshua Pruett. The film stars Dominic Keating (Star Trek: Enterprise), Myrom Kingery, and Morgan Flanagan.
A 2,800-Year-Old Spoiler Alert
For those who skipped ninth-grade English, The Odyssey is one of two ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer (the other being the Iliad). He is considered to be one of the most influential and foundational authors in human history.
Homer’s original masterpiece follows Odysseus, the clever King of Ithaca, as he takes the absolute longest possible route home after the Trojan War. Back on the home front, everyone assumes he’s shark bait. His fiercely loyal wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, are forced to deal with a house full of arrogant, freeloading suitors competing for Penelope’s hand in marriage and the throne.
Thought to have been composed sometime around the 8th or 7th century BC, it remains one of the most important works in literary history. And now, nearly three millennia later, it has achieved the ultimate modern honor: getting a heavily stylized, green-screen-filled reimagining from the studio that brought you Sharknado.
Grab your oars, shield your eyes from the sirens, and check out the brand-new trailer below. And watch The Asylum’s The Odyssey tonight!
